SAUGUS — Multiple officers were stabbed while responding to a call on Tuttle Street in Saugus Thursday morning, said Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli.
The suspect, Steven Sossong, 43, of Saugus, has been charged with four counts of Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon and four counts of Assault and Battery on a Police Officer.
Police said the incident occurred shortly after 7:20 a.m. when officers responded to a report of a stolen U-Haul rental vehicle that hadn’t been returned.
Upon officer arrival, Sossong declined to exit the residence, and police made entry into the home following an initial investigation. An altercation between Sossong and police ensued, and three officers were allegedly stabbed by a sharp weapon upon entry.
The injured officers were eventually able to disarm Sossong and place him in custody as other officers arrived.
One neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said she was drawn out of her home by the heavy police presence gathered on the quiet, residential street.
“I saw the EMTs bring out one of the officers from the residence,” she said. “He clearly had a severe arm injury and his arm was all wrapped up. I saw them put him in the ambulance and leave.”
After he was subdued, the neighbor said officers had the suspect lie on the ground outside his front door for 15 to 20 minutes.
“There wasn’t any altercation (at that point),” she said. “I saw them carry him to the second ambulance on the scene. He was restrained, arms behind his back, face down in a pouch they were carrying him in.”
The three injured officers were later transported to Massachusetts General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, while a fourth officer was also transported to MGH for precautionary reasons.
Sossong was transported to Melrose-Wakefield Hospital. He was later released and brought to Lynn District Court for arraignment.
The neighbor said she rarely saw Sossong and added that the house had appeared abandoned until just a few days prior, when Sossong was seen outside weed-whacking.
A cab driver at the scene, who also did not want to be identified, said he’d known Sossong for years, describing him as “quiet,” and someone who “kept to himself.”
The driver added that he’d seen a UHaul sitting outside the home for some time.
“He wouldn’t tell me why he didn’t return it,” he said.
A spokesman for Saugus Police said the investigation will be led by the State Police Detective Unit for Essex County. State Police have also sent patrols and a patrol supervisor from Troop A, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and a State Police chemist to assist.
Tuttle Street remains blocked off Thursday as authorities continue to investigate.
This is a developing story